Barcelona and Atlético Madrid meet in the first leg of their Champions League quarterfinal on Wednesday, just four days after their latest LaLiga clash, with both teams seeking advancement in Europe's premier competition.
Recent Encounters and Stakes
The two Spanish giants have already faced each other twice this season in LaLiga and once in the Copa del Rey semi-finals. Barcelona won the most recent LaLiga match 2-1 in a controversial game, while the Copa del Rey tie saw Atlético win 4-0 in the first leg before Barcelona responded with a 3-0 victory in the second leg.
Team News and Injuries
Barcelona will be without key players Frenkie de Jong and Raphinha due to injuries, which could impact their midfield control and attacking options. Atlético Madrid also faces absences, with goalkeeper Jan Oblak and midfielder Barrios ruled out for the first leg.
Historical Context in Champions League
Historically, Atlético Madrid has eliminated Barcelona in both of their previous Champions League meetings, which occurred in the quarterfinals during the 2013/14 and 2015/16 seasons. In those instances, Atlético went on to reach the final.
Expected Lineups
- Barcelona: Joan García; Eric García, Cubarsí, Gerard Martín, João Cancelo; Dani Olmo, Pedri; Lamine Yamal, Fermín López, Rashford; Lewandowski.
- Atlético de Madrid: Musso; Marcos Llorente, Giménez, Hancko, Ruggeri; Koke, Álex Baena; Giuliano Simeone, Griezmann, Lookman; Julián Alvarez.
Match Schedule and Broadcast Details
The match is scheduled for various times across time zones:
- 9 p.m. in Madrid (local time)
- 4 p.m. in Buenos Aires
- 2 p.m. in Bogotá
- 1 p.m. in Mexico City
- 12 p.m. in Los Angeles
- 3 p.m. in Miami
Broadcast options include:
- United States: ESPN and ESPN+
- Mexico: FOX One
- South America: Disney+, ESPN, or FOX Sports
- Spain: Movistar+ and Movistar Liga de Campeones
